Container



Ail g. 8, 1944. v G. B L 2,355,062

CONTAINER Filed Sept. 28, 1939 a INVENTOR 5 g Patented Aug. 8, 1944 UNITED STAT CONTAINER George C. Erb, Forest Hills West, and Garland W. Reese, Chappaqua, N. Y., assignors to American Can Company, New York, N. ration of New Jersey Y., a corpo- 7 Application September 28, 1939, Serial No. 296,988

Claims. (Cl. 222480) The present invention relates to dredging cans for powders, condiments and the like and has particular reference to a fully sealed rectangular double seamed can which is opened by breaking out scored parts cut in a central panel of thecan end or top, this panel being raised flush with the top part of the seam to provide a slide seat for a perforated top slide which engages over two opposite sides of the seam by means of which the cam may be fully opened for dispensing of its contents as in removal by a spoon, or the dispensing may be done by sifting the contents through the perforations or dredge openings in the slide, or the can may be reclosed by the slide against any discharge of the contents.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a double seamed dredging can which is initially sealed on its contents and which may be opened to make eifective a perforated top slide which engages over the double seam and slides along and in close contact with a raised central panel of the can end, different positions ofthe slide determining different kinds of dispensing of the can contents in addit on to functioning as a reclosure for the can.

Another object is the provision of a simple flush top slide member for a rectangular can of the character described which allows for removal of a large amount of the contents as by a spoon when the slide is moved toward one short edge of the rectangular can top and which closes the can when the slide is moved toward the other short edge, at which time it is centralized on the can top, dredge openings being effective at termediate position of the slide.

Numerous other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better understood from the following description, which, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, discloses a preferred embodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can embodying the present invention, theview showing the top slide in fully closed position on the can;

Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the can shown in i Fig. 3 is a similar plan view showing the top slide withdrawn into a position where the can may be opened;

Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the intermediate position of the top slide which is the sifting position; and

Figs. 5 and 6 are longitud nal and transverse sections taken respectively along the section an inlines 55 and 6-6 in Fig. 4 and drawn to an enlarged scale.

The present invention is concerned with a dredging can having a simple one piece perforated top slide which has longitudinal movement across a flush surface provided in the can top, which is secured to the can body in' a double seam. The slide becomes efiective to condition the can for dispensing of or for enclosing its contents, after' the can has been in'tially opened, by breaking out or depressin a scored part of the top end. Such a can is preferably rectangular in shape and the slide member is also rectangular and two sides of the'slide are engaged over and under the double seam joint. connecting the can and body.. This holds the slide in proper position relative to the can top.

Such a rectangular can comprises a can body I I (Figs. 1 and 5) preferably formed of metal and provided with an imperforate bottom or end member l2 and an imperforate'top end member [3. The two end members maybe secured to the body in conventional double seams It.

The top end I3 is primarily of the usual dished form required for double seaming but the-central panel, designated by the numeral I5 is raised or extended to a position where its upper surface is flush with the top edge of the seam. l4 thus leaving the usual depressed wall adjacent'the double seam as an annular chuck groove l6.,

7 The flush surfaces of the central panel l5 and the seam !4 permit the use of a one-piece top slide member l1 which rests on the panel wall and on the double seam in various positions of the'slide. To insure a simple and eifective'slid ing connection for the slide member I l, the same is bent down along its two long sides or opposite longitudinal edges in curled flange edges i8 which snugly fit over and under the outside surfaces of the two opposed seam parts on the long sides of the can end l3. This is best shown in Fig. 6.

The natural spring of the metal insures a close contact and pressure engagement between the lower surface of the slide and the upper "surface of the panel in the different positions of the slide and makes a simple and at the'same time an efli cient dredge can construction.

The can top 13 is cut through fully or in part by score lines 2| (Fig. 3) which preferably are patterned as a continuous arc as a broken chord line setting oil a removable area 22 which for this design of score lines is the segment of a "circle; This removable area is containedfully within the central panel prior to openingof the can and thus provides an irnperforate can top for enclosing the contents.

When the can is opened to render the slide l'l effective as a slide closure member, the segment area 22 is pushed down into the can as shown in Fig. 6, the arcuate score line breaking through and the metal of the top bending along the chord score line. This removal of the area 22 from the plane of the can top creates a dispensing opening 23 in the can top.

The slide H, which becomes effective upon this initial opening of the can, is out through adjacent one end with perforations 24. The pres- -I ing lesser slide movement. This compact feature 7 is highly desirable in dredging cans.

ent embodiment shows these holes asarranged I along an arc line so that they will more correctly align with the dispensing opening 23 along its curved side when such perforations are used as dredge or sifter openings.

A notch 25 is also cut into one end edge of the slide I1 and is preferably positioned close to one end of the line of perforations. This notch is used for alignment with the dispensing opening 23 when the slide is in one position and allows for more compact and minimum dimensions of the can with the maximum size of dispensing opening.

The slide I! has three positions relative to the can top l3 and at each position a different dredge can condition obtains. Elements in the slide'it self insure exact positioning of the slide for its different dredging functions. Thus when the sealed can is first received by the ultimate consumer of the contents of the can the slide I? is centered directly over the cantop, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. This is also the reclosing position of the slide after the can is opened and when it is again closed.

In this centered position the proper alignment is determined by a downwardly extending stop curl flange element 26 which strikes against the double seam along one short edge. This stop curl is merely an angular extension of the two side curls l8 along the back edgeof the can top. In the same position a protuberance 21, pressed in the wall of the slide adjacent its rear edge, rests inside of the double seam.

The slide I! is moved to other positions by manipulation of a finger curl 28 which is cut out of the flange curl 26 and is curled up over the top of the slide. To first move the slide, therefore, in preparation for its initial opening it is merely necessary to draw it back across the top of the can into the position of Fig. 3. In doing this the protuberance 2'! snaps over the seam. In withdrawn position, sides of the notch 25 of the slide match or register with the score lines at the end of the scored section and all of the removable area 22 is thereupon exposed.

Protuberances 3| pressed down fromthe slide wall are now engaged against and inside of the double seam at the rear edge of the can top. This forms the stop elements for this position of the slide. While in this position the can is initially opened by pressing'in the removable area as previously described. After opening of the can and while the slide is still in this position dispensing of the can contents may be had by inserting a spoon into the dispensing opening 23, the shape of this opening being designed for such dispensing action.

The sifting position of the slide I1 is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. To reach such an intermediate position, the slide is pushed forward until protuberances 32 are snapped over and brought just It is thought that the invention and many of its attendant advantages will be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form,

' construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

We claim: 1. In combination with a container body having a counter-sunk sheet metal top end head crimped thereto at its marginal edge and a flat slide member therefor, said body and head being rectangular-in shape and said top end head having an openingtherein, the upper plane of the crimped edge portion of said top head serving as an outer bearing surface for the slide member, a bearing portion having a relatively Wide upper bearing surface bordering the opening of the slide member, said inner bearing surface being on a substantial plane with the outer bearing surface, a channel rectangular in shape spacing the two bearing surfaces from each other, said slide memher having sifter openings near one end thereof, epressed stops formed on the slide member on opposite sides of the sifter openings, and said stops projecting into the channel to limit move ment of the slide member in either direction of movement by coming into contact with the outer wall of the channel. 2. The combination of a container body having a countersunk top end member secured'at its marginal edges thereto in an end seam, and a substantially flat sliding closure member for said end member, said body and end member being rectangular in shape and said end member having a dispensing opening therein, said end seam constituting an outer bearing surface for said slide'closure member, the portion of said end member surrounding said opening providing a relatively wide inner bearing surface for said slide member disposed substantially in the plane of said outer bearing surface, the countersunk portion of said end member constituting a channel disposed between and separating said bearing surfaces, said slide closure-member having sifter perforations and a depressed stop lug spaced therefrom at one end thereof, said stop lug projecting into said channel to limit outward movement of the'slide closure member in bulk dispensing position by contacting the outer Wall of said channel inwardly of said seam.

3. The combination of a container bodyhaving a countersunk top end member secured at its marginal edges thereto in an end seam, and a substantially fiat sliding closure memberhaving sift er openings therein slidably mounted on said end member, said body and end member being rectangular in shape and said end member having" a dispensing opening therein disposed forregistry with said sifter openings, said end seam constitut ing an outer bearing surface for said slide closure member, the portion of said end member surrounding said opening providing a relatively wide inner bearing surface for said slide member disposed substantially in the plane of said outer bearing surface, the countersunk portion of said end member constituting a channel disposed between and separating said bearing surface, and a plurality of spaced depressed stops formed on the slide member for contacting an outer wall of said channel inwardly of said seam when said slide member is in an open or in a closed position relative to said dispensing opening.

4. A rectangular dredge top can comprising a top end member secured to the can body in an end seam, said top end member having an annular countersunk portion adjacent the end seam and having a central panel raised substantially flush with the top of the said surrounding seam, said panel having a dispensing area, and a perforated rectangular flat top slide member disposed substantially over the entire can end and having oppositely disposed depending curled edges engaging over opposite sides of the end seam in a sliding connection which holds the slide member flush against said raised panel and against the top of said seam, said slide member being movable over and relative to said panel so that the perforations in the slide member are respectively in registry with or shielded by said central panel in non-registry with said dispensing area.

5. A rectangular dredge top can comprising a top end member secured to the can body in an end seam which constitutes an outer bearing surface, said top end member having an annular countersunk portion disposed adjacent the end seam and having a central panel raised substantially flush with the top of the surroundingseam, said panel having a dispensing area of segmental shape located with its outer end disposed adjacent one end of the panel, the wall surrounding the segmental area providing an inner bearing surface, and a rectangular fiat top slide member for covering the entire can end when in closed position, said slide member having oppositely disposed depending curled edges for engaging opposite sides of the end seam in a sliding connection for holding the said slide member against both outer and inner bearing surfaces, said slide member having a notch extending intermediately. into the end of the slide adjacent the segmental area of said panel for conforming registry with the inner end of the dispensing area when the slide member is in open position to fully expose the area, said notch when said slide member is in closed position being out of register with any part of said dispensing area, whereby to provide a minimum longitudinal dimension of the can top with a maximum longitudinal dimension of the segmental dispensing area.

GEORGE C. ERB. GARLAND W. REESE. 

